Final Newsletter of 2014

#13

WHATABURGER-WHAT A NIGHT; 5 CHAMPS

The 2014 racing season here will surely go down history as one of the most competitive seasons ever. The points battle in every single division has really been the focus of interest starting way back in March. No one driver has been able to run away with the points in their respective divisions and that’s what’s going to make tonight extra exciting for the “What A Burger Night of Champions”.

Let’s start with the Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Models.

How about a measly 4 point lead for Johanna Long over young Garrett Jones? All the pressure is on Long because it is hers to loose, but at the same time, look for Jones to go all out. All I know is after 100 laps a champion will be determined, and may the best driver win the coveted crown for 2014.

But before I move on to another division you might ask, “What if both of these drivers have trouble and end up with poor finishes?” Well, you can always turn to Junior Niedecken, who sits only 21 points back, to step up and wear the crown proudly.

As we all have known for years, don’t ever count out Niedecken as a contender at Five Flags Speedway.

All three of these drivers will have to stay focused due to a larger than usual field of cars on hand, because they will all be fine tuning their rides as they all look forward to the Snowflake 100 in December at the 47th Annual Snowball Derby festivities.

Things would really have to go sour for Okie Mason as he has a pretty comfortable 69 point lead in the Modified Division over David Beale. He will be shooting for a third championship this year after winning both the Pro Truck and Modified Championships at Mobile International Speedway. Pretty much unheard of; winning three titles in one season, wouldn’t you say? But wait!

There’s more! It is possible he can win 4 in one year.

You see, he’s also leading the Pro Trucks at Five Flags by 23 over Jay Jay Day. He would definitely be “KING OF 2014” if he can pull this hat trick out of the bag.

Brannon Fowler is proof just how quick things can change as he led the Sportsman points pretty much all year before the wheels came falling off in the past few weeks. He now trails Shanna Ard by 46 points, with one race left.

You think the Pro Late Model points are close with Long holding a 4 point lead? Check this out. Michael Nelson and Robert Balkum go into the finale tied with 1,512 points. Wow, I’m not even sure I can watch this one!!

Let’s close this out with a big ole congratulations to our Super Stock champion for 2014…Todd Jones and the Buddy’s Blizzard champ Bubba Pollard. Final points are on the back page.

Finally we would like to shout out a big Thank You to all our great fans and sponsor’s for your support. Enjoy tonight’s actions!!

See ya at the Derby.

National Anthem Presented By:

Chuck Corder’s Thoughts On Tonight’s Championships

The annual Night of Champions at Five Flags Speedway always feels like the last day of school. It’s a time for celebration.

The thrilling door-to-door battles that left fans breathless.

Tempers that boiled over into wars of words instead of fists, much to the delight of the packed houses. And last-lap passes that led to victories, and had you turning to your fellow spectator with mouths jarred wide open.

The Night of Champions rekindles all those memories. But it’s also a night where excellence over a season is rewarded with hardware. It promises to be a bittersweet evening for many. Those that procure track championships will be filled with elation. While those that fall just short will play the what-if game, and try to get their setups dialed in for Snowball Derby week, a mere 2 months away.

Despite holding a seemingly comfortable point lead, Milton driver Shanna Ard hopes to leave no doubt as to who the Beef “O” Brady’s Sportsman track champion is. Same goes for Okie Mason, who hopes to hold off a hard-charging Jay Jay Day.

SNOWBALL DERBY Preview here on Saturday, November 22nd.

Erika Rowe of Milton

Most of the intrigue for tonight, though, will revolve around the race for the Allen Turner Pro Late Model championship and the Butler U-Pull-It Bombers crown.

Former Nationwide Series driver Johanna Long, the hometown girl whose legend grew with her 2010 Snowball Derby victory, leads reigning PLM track king Garrett Jones — all 14 years of him — by 4 markers as the night begins.

While, the Bombers battle could not be any closer. By virtue of back-to-back feature wins, defending track champ Michael Nelson and Robert Balkum are dead even. Saturday night’s 20-lap feature will truly be for all the marbles.

Video Ted Baber Tom Wilsey 850-458-2501 251-597-4747 Car Photos

When he adds it all up, Okie Mason figures he has been coming to Five Flags Speedway for more than 30 years. At 52, the Eight Mile, Ala., native is just a few years older than the Snowball Derby itself, which will celebrate its 47th annual edition in December.

In all that time, Mason has won a lot of feature races. Even won the Super Stocks version of the Snowball last December for his first career Derby trophy. But never has he won a track championship here.

That will certainly all change at tonight when the Allen Turner Pro Late Models, Pro Trucks, Home Depot Modifieds, Beef “O” Brady’s Sportsmen and Butler U-Pull-It Bombers take to the high banks where track winners in all five divisions will be crowned.

“I guess who could say it’d be storybook,” said Mason, who will win the Mods title and could also snatch the Pro Trucks crown, as well. “It’s tough to win championships there. It’s a racer’s track.

It really makes you feel good when do good there and win.

While much of the attention revolves around the head-to-head PLM battle that awaits points leader Johanna Long and defending champion Garrett Jones, who trails by just four markers, the local classes have many storylines to offer up, starting with Mason.

He has an insurmountable lead for the Mods title, 69 points ahead of his nearest competitor, David Beale. But the night could be doubly sweet for Mason, who could go from zero track championships at Five Flags to two in the span of minutes. He holds a 23-point lead over fellow Alabama driver, Jay Jay Day, in the Pro Trucks class. Mason knows a win isn’t necessary, but why leave any outcome — especially one with a title riding on it — to chance?

Shanna Ard has enjoyed a second-half explosion in recent months.

After being regarded as one of the top Beef “O” Brady’s Sportsman drivers, he has clearly vaulted himself into the frontrunner for his first career track championship here. Two-time Sportsmen track champion Brannon Fowler is firmly in second and hopes the racing gods will shine on him this weekend.

But the one feature race everybody seems to be circling on tonight’s schedule is the Butler U-Pull-It Bombers marble match between Robert Balkum and defending champion Michael Nelson.

With quite the stretch run — four victories in his last five races and five overall this season — Nelson moved into a tie with Balkum for the overall lead after last week. With 5 championships on the line there will be plenty for the fans to enjoy.

Read all of Chuck’s story on our web at: www.5flagsspeedway.com

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The Locksmith Leader

1t 1t 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

52 03 22 27 11 83 15 1 77

Robert Balkum 1517 Michael Nelson 1517 John K Merritt 1404 Tommy Lowery 1329 Courtney Rodrigues 1284 Tim WIlmot 1047 Hunter Ward 1002 Preston Prevatte 928 Rick Culbertson

861

10 99 Ryan Worsham 694

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

29 00 77 33 07 12 33 42 83 10 17

1556 1510 1353 1247 1051 1049 973 Randy Thompson 873 Bo Resmondo 823 Kris Pierce 794 Shanna Ard Brannon Fowler Shawn Laws Steve Buttrick Jim Pokrant Thomas Faddis Kenny Williams

FINAL

1 26 Bubba Pollard 2 112 Augie Grill 2 Donnie Wilson 3 4 98 Daniel Hemric 5 1 Mike Garvey 29 Anderson Bowen 6 7 11 David Rogers 8 18 Hunter Robbins 21 Johanna Long 9 10 79 Kyle Bryant

441 420 397 378 352 303 301 274 259 245

FINAL

1 10 Okie Mason 2 13 David Beale 3 66 Heath Mills 4 17 Chris Cotto 5 8 Donnie Hamrac 6 7 Robert Chason 7 117 Michael Swilley 8 88 Joe Thornton 9 99 Brandon Howell 10 131 Jeff Letson

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6 98 99 26 72 1

56 13 50 16

Okie Mason Jay Jay Day Teras Hodivsky Ray Hoey Greg Leachman Howard Langham Darryl Rudd Jeremy Tassin Ty Roberts Jessie Reid

540 471 309 287 209 185 173 170 127 123

656 633 594 298 284 273 254 243 217 208

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9 12 9 42 5 33 84 57 18 94

Todd Jones Bubba Winslow Dave Nolen Randy Thompson Kevin Chase Dave Mader III Joe Mahuron Charles Skipper Jessie Reid Jason Johnson

734 727 654 594 446 440 373 347 163 97

1 2 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 10

11 88 99 14 21 30 33 4 22 17

Johanna Long Garrett Jones Jr. Niedecken Ryan Luza Larry Blount Rusty Sanford Dustin Smith Elliott Massey Bryce Dulabhan Kurt Guillot

675 671 654 539 536 496 496 482 431 419

Irvin Perankovich and Jeremy Pate talking racing at the tech station with Bubba Pollard.